Fluid meter



Sept. 27, 1938. A. F. sPlTzGLAss v 2,131,485

FLUID METER Filed Aug. 20,- 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 27,1938 y `UNITED STATES FLUID METER Albert F. spitzglass, chicago, nl.,miglior tonepublic Flow Meters Company, Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of Illinois Application August zo, 1966. semi No. 96,931

Claims.

This invention relates to meters and the like, and is illustrated asembodied in a flow meter operated by power under the controlofthecondition whose values are being measured and 5 which are to beindicated by the pressure.

An object of the invention is to provide a meter adapted to measure theflow, or other variable, of a corrosive uid. To`this end, the parts ofthe meter which come in contact with the iluid are limited in number,and are arranged separately from the rest of the meter mechanism, sothat they may readily be made of materials which are not attacked by theuid being metered.

chamber containing these parts by means acting against a part which isdirectly connected to and operated by the power means of the meter, sothat the sensitivity of the meter is in no way aiected even if it isnecessary to provide a very tight joint with considerable friction.

Another object of the invention has to do with the operation of themeter by power under the control of a sensitive device such as a pilotvalve shifted by pressure graduated in. a novel manner according to themeasured quantities being measured.

The above and other objects and features of the invention, includingvarious novel combinations `of parts and desirable particularconstructions, will be apparent from the following description of theillustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawingsin which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the meter connected to be controlledby iluid flow through a conduit;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the upper part of the meter, on alarger scale th Figure 1;;

Figure 3 is a similar vertical section, showing A the parts in the upperportion of Figure 2 on, a

still larger scale;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of theparts which operate the indicatingmechanism of the Y meter; Figure 5 is a front elevation of the chartplate of the meter; and

Figure 6 is a detail view of part of the indicator mechanism.

The mechanism embodying my invention is illustrated as embodied in ameter indicating the f flo'w of a corrosive uid through a. conduit orthe like I0 provided with an orifice .plate or the equivalent I2, onopposite sides of which are connected relatively small pressure conduits|4- (ci. '1s-205) A related object has to do with sealing the and I6leading to the meter body, the conduit I 4 being on the high pressureside.

'I'he meter is illustrated as embodied in a standard or floor support,I8, the upper part of which forms a power cylinder20, the cylinder inturn carrying an instrument casing 22, on top of' which is mounted apressure compartment f such as a cylinder 24 axially alined with thecylluder 2n.

The compartment 24 is shown with the con- 10 duit I4 vopening into itslower end through a suitable shutoi valve 26, and is provided with ahead 28 having a passage 36 to which the conduit I6 is connected througha shutoi valve 34. The device is also preferably provided with a 15needle valve 32 which can be opened to equalize the pressures above andbelow a diaphragm or the like 36, for use in Calibrating the instrument.

The diaphragm 36 is weighted by plates 38 secured thereto by a nut 40threaded on the 2 stem of a headed iitting 42 passing through the centerof the diaphragm. The fitting 42 is connected to the upper end' of acoil tension spring 44 in the compartment 24, the lower end of thespring being' adjustably threaded'upon a, head 25 46 rotatable on theupper end of a connecting rod 48 passing through a stuillng box 50 intothe cas- The weight of the diaphragm 36 and the parts supported therebyis preferably balanced by, a 30 spring 52 conned between the diaphragmand a stamping 54, so that this weight can be disregarded in calibratingthe'instrument.

The open upper face of the head 28 is closed by a plate 56 seated on agasket 58 and carrying 35 at its axis a thimble 60 to the end of which anut 62 or the like seals a cup-shaped part 64 of non-magnetic materialsuch as a high-chromium stainless steel.

The upper face of the tting 42 is recessed to 40 v receive the pointedlower-end of a connecting rod 66 carrying'a soft-iron armature 68. Thecupshaped part 64 containing the armature 68 projects into a two-partupper housing 10, between the poles of a permanent horse-shoe'magnet 1245 pivoted atl 14 and which, with a bar 16 attached thereto, forms apivoted lever controlled by the position of the amature 68. The parts ofthe housing 'I6 may be secured together by suitable fastenings 18. 50

It will be noted that the diaphragm 36, and the parts which it controls,as'well as the spring 44 which reacts on it, are'all in a sealed chamberwhich is the only part of the apparatus accessible to the corrosivefluid in the conduct I6, and that 12-1s 1s continued by the differentialpreserves l v`and turning therewith, er the hub of the eem' the frictionof the stuiilng box 80 or the equivalent means for sealing about theconnecting rod 48 has no e'ect on the sensitivity of the meter, since itacts on a part which is directly connected to and forcibly operatedbythe power piston I8 described below. 'I'hus the sensitivity of theresponse of the spring," and the diaphragm 88 is not in any way aiected`by the friction, no matter how tightly it may be necessary to pack thejoint.

It will be seen that the position of the lever 4 plate 84, and carriedby a weighted diaphragm 'I'he space below the diaphragm 88 is open tothe atmosphere, while the compressed air is admitted to the space aboveit through a passage 88 adjustably controlled by a needle valve 80. Thevpassage 88 leads from a pressurel chamber 82 into which the compressedair is admitted, from any suitable source, through a. conduit 84.

The pressure chamber 82 also communicates, through a port 88, with acentral annular groove 88 in a stationary valve sleeve or cylinder |00,and thence through suitable openings |02 with the interior of thesleeve. Within the sleeve |08 is a vertically movable valve piston |04having at its lower end a head resting on and urged upwardly by a spring|08, the tension of which can be set by adjusting a nut |08 providedwith an opening therethrough so that atmospheric pressure acts on thelower end of `the valve piston.

` '111e upper end of the piston |04 engages the lower fece of theweighted diaphragm 08, so that pressure on theiupper face of thediaphragm forces the valve'piston downwardlyagainst the resistance ofthe spring |08.

The valve piston is formed with spaced collars normally blocking portsleading to annular passages ||0 and ||2 communicating with conduits mend 'ne leading respectively te the bottom.'

and top of the lcylinder^20.-L The above-described partsform a pilotvalve controlled by the positior'rof the, armature 88, and controllingthe admission to, and exhaust. from, the cylinder 28, of -the compressedair. y

The cylinder 28 contains a double-acting piston ||8 having a piston rod|20 passing through a stuffing box |22 and adjustably coupled to thelower end of the connecting rod 48.

The connection between the rods 48 and |20 includes a swivel tting '|24pivoted to a link |28, the lower end of which is pivoted to a lever orarm |28 mounted atone end on a fixed fulcrum |80.

|82, and a `keeper plate |84, guiding an angularly Amovable square-rootcam arm |88 held against the roller |82 by a spring |88, and mounted ona shaft |40. A scale |42 may be provided for the cam arm |88 if desired.1

The shaft |40, if ,iixed to the cam arm |88 .with a transverse pinl orthe like |48 (Figure 5) lcarried by'a shaft |40 journaled on the chartplete lso, adapted te be secured in the easing 2z over theabove-described mechanism, just inside H The lever .|28 carries at itsend a cam rollerV the glazed door |82. The shaft |48 is shown providedwith an arm |84 connected by a link |88 to a bell crank lever |88 xed ona shaft |80 journaled in the plate and carrying the usual pen ann |82.'I'he bellcra'nk |88 may alsobe s connected by means such as a link |84to operate a suitable integrator |88.

In operation, iluctuatlon in the pressures on opposite sides of theorice plate i2, due to variations in fluid flow, cause the diaphragm 38to 10 shift the armature 88 to rock-the lever 12-18 and thereby ycausemovement of the pilot valve |04 to admit compressed air to one of theconduits ||4 or ||8 and to cause the other one t exhaust to theatmosphere. 15

Thisactuates the piston ||8 to rock the lever |28 to cause the squareroot cam lever |88 to set the pen arm |82 and to change the control ofthe integrator |88), and at the same time to vary the tension of thespring 44 to balance the 20 changed pressures on the diaphragm 88.

It will be noted that very few parts are in contact with the corrosivefluid being metered, and that those parts may readily be made ofmaterials not aiIected by that particular iiuid,

While one illustrative construction has been described in detail, it isnot my intention' to limit the scope of the invention to that particularconstruction, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims. ,o

I claim:

'1. A meter or the like comprising a standard adapted to rest on thefloor and having Yits upper portion formed as a cylinder. having avertically movable piston therein, an indicator mounted on the upper endof said cylinder and provided l with a casing and with indicatormechanism in said casing connected to said piston to be actuatedOthereby, a pressure compartment mounted on the top of -said casingsubstantially in alinement with said cylinder. a diaphragm dividing saidcompartment into upper and lower parts, means for yieldingly axiallyconnecting said diaphragm to said piston, means for connecting saidupperand lower parts to sources of diiferential pressures, means forintroducing pressure uid into the cylinder on opposite sides of saidpiston and which means is provided with a control valve, and meansmounted on the upper pai-t of said compartment/and 'controlled by saiddiaphragm 50' and which in turn controls said valve.

2.A` meter orthe like comprising a standard r adapted to rest on theiloor and having its upper 1portion formed as a cylinder having avertically movable piston therein, an indicator mounted on 55 the upperend oi said cylinder and provided with a casing and with indicatormechanism in said casing connected to said piston to be actuatedthereby. va pressure control device mounted on the top of said casingsubstantially in alinement withsaid cylinder, means for yieldinglyconnecting the control device to said indicator mechanism, means forconnecting said control device to sources of diil'erential pressures,lmeans for in- Y troducing pressure fluid int'o the cylinder on oppolsite sides of said piston land which means is provided with a controlvalve, and means mounted on and actuated by said cpntol device andjwhichin turn controls said valve.

3. A meteror the like comprising a vertical 7o cylinder havingfluid-pressure connections and a pressure-differential-operated devicearranged between said connections and dividing it into two parts, apower cylinder below and in line with said vertical cylinder andcontaining a power 7|.

piston, a connecting linkage extending upwardly from the power pistonsubstantially axially of said cylinders, a spring in the lower part ofthe upper cylinder connecting the linkage andthe pressure-differentialdevice and reacting on the latter, means controlled by thepressure-difierential device and controlling the power admitted to thepower cylinder, and an indicator mechanism between the two cylinders andactuated by.

said linkage, said indicator mechanism including a casing mounted on theupper end of the power cylinder and supporting the lower end of saidvertical cylinder and containing a pivoted arm linked to said linkageand an indicator having an actuating arm formed on one edge as asquareroot cam and operatively engaged by means car-- ried by thepivoted arm.

4. A meter or the like comprising a vertical cylinder havinghuid-pressure connections and a pressure-diierential-operated devicearranged between said connections and dividing it into two parts, apower cylinder below and in line with said vertical cylinder andcontaining a power piston, a connecting linkage extending upwardly fromthe power piston substantially axially of said cylinders, a spring inthe lower part of the upper cylinder connecting the linkage and thepressure-dierential device and reacting on the latter, means controlledby the pressure-differential device and controlling the power admittedto the power cylinder, and an indicator mechanism between the twocylinders and actuated by said linkage, said indicator mechanism beingprovided with a casing mounted on the upper end of the power cylinderand supporting the lower end of said vertical cylinder.

5. A meter or the like comprising a standard adapted to rest on thefloor and having its upper portion formed as a cylinder having avertically movable piston therein,.a hollow casing mounted on the upperend of the cylinder. a. pressure control device including a pressurecompartment mounted on top of `said casing, a .horizontal diaphragmdividing said compartment into upper and lower parts, means forconnecting said upper and lower parts vrespectively to sources ofdifferential pressure, a rod connected to said piston and extendingthrough said casing into said lower compartment part, a spring in saidlower part connecting the rod to the diaphragm, and a control devicemounted onthe pressure control device actuated by said diaphragm forcontrolling admission of fluid pressure to'one side or f' the other ofsaid piston.

ALBERT 1". sPnzGLAss.

